Reversible fulcrum for brake-beams.



H. Z. EBBS.

REVERSIBLE PULGRUM FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

Patented s011129, 1914.

APPLIUATION FILED APB; 1, 1914L gvwemtoz H-Z EraraS 351g udu/ www@ ath-nun HORACE z. EEES, 0E KNOXVIELE, TENNESSEE.

i REVERSIBLE FULCRUM FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. ".Patented Sept, 29,1914, Application `filed April 1, 1914. Serial-No. 828,886.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, HORACE Z. EEES, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Knoxville, in the county of Knox 'and State of rl`ennessee, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Reversible Fulcrums for Brake-Beams, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to brake beams and particularly to a novel form of ulcrum therefor.

The object of the invention is in a ready, novel and thoroughly practical manner and without shifting its position relative to the brake beam, to adapt a 'fulcrum for use inv connection with either a right or a left hand brake beam, thereby to eliminate the necessity of providing two styles of fulcrums to equip the brake beams of a single truck,` and thus reduce by one-halt the stock heretofore required for that purpose.

With the above and other objects in view,

as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understoodthe same consists, generally stated, in a reversible brake beam fulcrum embodying a clamp of any preferred construction, to be rigidly assembled with the brake beam and a head integral with the clamp. The head is provided with allthrough slots disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the brake beam that constitute guides to receive the brake lever, the outer ends of the guides being closed. The head, is by preference, crucitorm in cross section to provide a web-like structure, which will not only possess greater strength but will reduce the weight of the structure to the minimum, the intermediate portion of the head being reinforced by ribs formed integral with the outer surfaces of the arms of the head and serving to reinforce the latter at the point that will be subjected to greatest strain, namely where the brake lever is pivoted.

In conjunction with the head is employed a filler block that is designed to engage the guides not occupied by the brake lever, the block being provided with flanges to rest upon the upper face of the arm with which it engages and having a longitudinal slot to register with the guides of the engaged` all-through orifice to rearms, and with an ceive the pin that holds the brake lever combined for pivotal movement with the block, the pin being assembled with the head and `operating to lock the block in position.

means of an ordinary cotter pin.

From the general description thus given `it will be seen that by the angular disposition of the guides within the head relative to the brake beam, that one ulcrum may readily be employed either for a right or `a left hand brake beam, `as it will-only Ibe necessary to shift the ller block from one to the other set of guides inorder to accomplish the reversion.

Further and more specific details of construction will be hereinafter more fully de-, scribed and claimed. l

In the accompanyirngl drawings characters of reference indicate corresponding parts: Figure 14 is a top plan view, partly `in section, displaying the `fulcrum disposed upon a brake beam; Fig. 2 is a ,transverse sectional view taken on the line `2---2 of Fig. 1; Fig.`3 `is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1; Fig 4: is a view in Jfront elevation of the fulcrum anda portion of the brake beam;

formin apart fof the specification and in which like and Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of a `filler block used in connection with the fulcrum. v

The ulcrum comprises a clamp 1 which` may be of a construction to ada tit for assemblage with anyform of bra e beam,

that herein shown being provided with a T-shaped recess 2 to be engaged by the ordinary brake beam, which 1s of likecontour 1n cross section.` y l Projecting from the clamp and integral therewith is a head, which is provided with four longitudinal slots, 3, 4, 5 and 6, for a purpose thatJ will presently appear. These slots constitute guides for the brake lever 7 and are disposed at opposite oblique angles t0 the longitudinal axis on the brake beam M 8, so as to impart the required angular pitch to the brake lever to enable it t0 be connected with the operating arts in the usual manner. The outer end o the head is solid, so as to impart rigidity to the structure as a whole.` As shown in Fig. 2, the head is of cruciform contour in cross section, providing thereby four arms 9, 10, 11 and 12 through which extend the guides 3-6 above referred to. The provision of these arms constitutes the head a skeleton structure, which as is well known will possess greater spring than would a solid castin and moreover materially reduces the weig t of the article asia whole. Intermediate of the ends of the head and exteriorly thereof, are cast reinforcing ribs 13 Which serve to strengthen the head at the point Where it is most needed, namely Where the brake lever is pivoted. Y

Combined with the lhead and arranged to engage either' set of guides is a one-piece ller blockv 14 provided with outstanding flanges 15 that upper surface of one of the arms at the upperfside of the head when the like arm on the same side is engaged by the block. The block `is of a size to extend entirely through two registering guides, and is provided With a longitudinal all-through slot 16 to register with either pair of oppositely disposed slots, and With a transverse orifice 17 that is designed to receive a pin 18 that serves tohold the brake vlever assembled With the head. The block will lie flush with the under side of the head, and is provided in its'lower face With a transverse slot 18 that is designed to be engaged by the shank of a cotter in 19 that projects through the lower end o -the pin 18, the under reinforces 13 being provided vvith recesses 20 also to receive the shank of the cotter pin. This Cotter pin not only serves to prevent the pin 18 from Working out of the filler block, but alsoserves to lock the latter in the head.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that should it be desiredto convert a left hand brake beam into a right hand one, it Will only be necessary to shift the filler block tothe required position, and then as- Semblethe brake lever With the block and y with the head, whereupon the change is coin- The adoption of this form of fulcrum to a brake b eam already in'use Will require no change in the structural arrangement either are designed to rest upon tlF one guide when the other is engaged.

2. A brake beam fulcruin having` brake lever receiving guides disposed at right anglee to each other, a one-piece filler ior One guide when the other is engaged by a brake lever, and a brake lever operating pin carried by the filler.

3. A brake beam fulcrum comprising an attaching clamp and a head, the latter being cruciform in cross section and provided with longitudinally disposed brake lever receiving guides disposed at right angles to each other and obliquely to the vertical axis of the head, and a one-piece iiller for one guide when the other is engaged by a brake lever. y

4. A brake beam fulcrum comprising an attaching clamp and a head, the latter beine' cruciforin in cross section and provide With longitudinally disposed brake lever receiving guides disposed at right angles to each other and obliquely to the vertical axis of the head, a one-piece filler for one guide When the other is engaged by a brake lever, and a brake lever pivoting pin carried by the filler.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ahx my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

HORACE Z. EBBS.

Witnesses:

WM. HAToismR, T. W. FIELDS.

` 'Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. C. 

